Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-09-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, AUG. 20, 1887.
After testing the new civil service
regulations in the war department. the
civil service commissioners state that
the experiment was q success, except in
some minor particulars that can be
readily adjusted to meet existing con-
ditions of the system in question. AS
a result of this examination the COM
missioners have certified to the war de-
partment the names of eight persons
for that number $l,2O vacancies and
names to fill the forty-eight vacancies
in the 81 900 class will at once be certi-
fled. These appointments will be made
with due regard to the apportionment
of the offices, according to the quotas
as of the several states of the Union.
The new rules will be applied to the
clerks of all departments in the treas
ury, it is supposed, being met in order.
1t is given out that Secretary Lamar
is strenuously opposed to the new civil
service rules, and that he will exert his
influence to prevent their application
to the interior department, though l
doubt the truthfulness of the report,
for, Mr.. Lamor having been Il college
professor fully appreciates the scholar
ly attainments of his subordinates.
have it from good authority that
the new commissioner of patents has
made the unexpected and interesting
discovery that the pay-rolls of his Office
contain the names of quite a startling
number of ladies or women whose sala-
ries are not provided for in the congress
sional appropriation bills, and who are
classed as "laborers," but whose labors
are not perceptible -at least. to the
public vision. These fair "laborers I"
are chiefly distinguished by their at
tractive personal appearance, and it is
said they are protected by statesmen
high in the councils of the nation.
Gen. Allan Rutherford, formerly an
auditor Of the treasury, but now a
prominent claim attorney, of this city,
and a clerk named Brouner, of the pen
sion Office are under arrest on the
charge of purloining government rec
ords from that bureau-the penalty be-
ing five years at penal servitude. The
clerk confesses his crime but the lawyer
stoutly denies his guilt and attempts
| to saddle another with the offence
charged.
The treasury has redeemed and re-
coined into dimes about four and three
quarter millions of trade dollars; the
time for redemption will expire in /,
| few days and it is believed that very
little is now left outstanding. Despite
the fact that more than sixteen million
dollars have been paid on pensions this
month. the excess of treasury receipts
over all disbursements foots up three
and half millions for the same period
thus largely augmenting the already
enormous surplus. which seems very
troublesome white elephant on the
hands of the government.
National bank repositories now hold
S20,204,254 Of government funds-by
far the the largest amounts they have
ever had in their history.
The last cabinet meeting was one OF
acting notwithstanding Bayard
the only member present-the othors
being away on their vacation.
Col. Daniel Lamont, the presidents
private secretary is said to be inter
ested in democratic pictorial weekly
soon to be launched on the sea of New
York journalism. l hear that the new
venture will call into requisition the
wonderful talents Iof Thos. Mast, who
has done SO much to win fame ant
fortune for Harper's Weekly.
Delegates to the International Medi
cal congress are arriving daily, and il
is thought there will be from two te
three thousand, perhaps more, in at
tendance. 1t will probably be the
largest and most important meeting o1
this character that ever assembled, ano
its deliberations are anticipated with
general interest.
/ Several public meetings of the citi
zens of Washington have been helt
lately, in which were boldly presented
charges of malfeasance and misfeas
ance in the management of the affair.
of the city water department. and tn,
president was even petitioned to re
move the district commissioners fol
neglect of duty. But the fact that th,
accounting officers Of the treasury de
partment have at least certified to tn,
correctness of the accounts of the com
missioners for nine years past, will,
suppose, acquit them of all blame ant
i put quietus to the agitation.
Among the other numerous attrac
tions the federal city is a great Gretnt